A/N This is going to be a long A/N, but there is a reason for it, so please bear with me. I started publishing this story a year ago, this past week, and I'm also at chapter 50, so I figured this would be a good time for a major announcement about this story. I currently plan on kinda, sorta ending this story, sometime in the story's month of July, with a short epilogue. Why at that point, you may ask? And what does kinda, sorta mean?
As for the why, I was writing the first draft of this chapter(50), when I published chapter 42, on Feb 21, 2021. While setting up to publish, I noticed that there were only three chapters left of Broken Threads on my Doc manager at Fan Fic(They stay on for one year). With 85 chapters in that story and probably around 70-80 in this one(don't quote me on that), I will have basically been putting out a chapter a week, for almost the last three years. In words, for that period of time (if you include a couple of other things I've done), I will have written just over 500,000 words, of fiction. To put that in perspective, that amounts to more than all three books of The Lord of the Rings (and no, I don't consider my quality even near a quarter the quality of that opus, I'm just comparing quantity).
However, churning out a chapter a week is beginning to wear on me. Now, don't get me wrong, I love writing about Leonard and Penny (and the rest of the gang), but between research, first draft, research, rewrites, research, editing, and copy editing, and finally publishing, it takes, on average, 20-25 hours a week, to put out a chapter. This means every week, on average. There are weeks I'll write two or three chapters in the first draft, but then go a couple of weeks not writing, but still have to do the editing and publishing every week. I do this, so I don't have a story sitting out there, not done, and readers wondering what happened. I've gone through that reading other stories, and it's not fun.
If you're wondering about hours, that comes to just about a full year of ten-hour days working on Broken Threads and this story. And speaking of it wearing, my faithful beta reader, TBBT78 has been there for every chapter, of the two stories, and probably needs a break also. She has been so extremely helpful and neither of these stories would be anywhere close to as good without her help. So L, you will soon have some free time back, hopefully, to add to her story at fanfic. Take some time and read her current one.
Now, there are also story reasons for ending there, but the reasons for stopping at that point may give some of the plot away, so I'll explain in author notes as I get to those points. But, I really do need a break. The reason I say kinda, sorta ending the story, is I do have ideas for what may happen after July (and I've moved some of them into this story), and I may end up writing about them, at some point in the future. The downside is by the time I return to actually writing those ideas, there may be nobody left who wants to read it (or alternately, at my age, if I take a long enough break, I might not be around to write it). So, I will end this story, so as not to have a story hanging.
Just be aware, that if I do get back to continuing this story, it will be quite a bit of a wait, because, in my mind, I will have to make sure the next story is finished, before I start publishing. Writing as I have been, eight to ten chapters ahead leaves me with the chance of a future story, written that way, not being finished, due to things that can happen at my age. I would rather not write a story than be halfway through and not be able to finish it. And, just so no one worries, I have nothing other than my non-life-threatening but problematic chronic pain, and my under control high blood pressure, at this time. But, when you're 65, unlike when you are 40, and you see friends and relatives dying at ages not much older than you, there is a realization that there are no guarantees you will have another ten or even five years left.
I'll still be keeping busy, I have some ideas for one-shots, but those will be rather random and sporadic, basically, when I feel the urge to write. I will be working on the transcripts for the series (over at TBBT Fansite Forum, and I'll still be a moderator). I'll be working on season 11 and 12 first, as the first ten seasons are already available (although in a line-by-line type of format, my transcripts are more like a screenplay). I've already got the first three episodes for season 12 and the first five for season 11 done. I'm also thinking about editing some of my older stories (based on what I've learned about writing in the last eight years), and putting them up on AO3 since my mature Lenny story (read smut) is over there (under Tensor11).
Besides that, there are a few other things I'm working on and, of course, I've got several video games to play (upcoming are The Last of Us pt 2, Assassins Creed, both Odyssey, and Valhalla). But, none of that is a mandatory thing. If I feel like writing, editing, or playing I will. Writing and publishing chapters of an ongoing story are something I feel is mandatory, for my readers. At least that's the way I think about my fanfic, so the story isn't hanging out there.
So, I hope you will all understand why I plan to end when I do. BTW, this is the longest chapter, so far. But that is mostly because of the long-ass A/N. Thanks for being patient with me.
Chapter 50
Tuesday 24 March, 7:30 PM
Leonard and Penny had finished dinner and were now on the couch. Leonard started flipping through the channels when Penny said, "Hold on Sweety, I've got something to tell you."
Leonard turned the TV off, and said, "What?"
Penny smiled coyly, "As of the 6 of April, I will be taking over my district. Dan and Tim told me today."
"What do you mean by, taking over?" asked Leonard.
"I will be running the district," said Penny, continuing to smile. "Dan won't be in charge, I will. If the salespeople have a problem or a question, they will be coming to me, not Dan. We'll get to see if they were right to promote me."
Leonard smiled, "That's good, right?"
Penny's smile drooped a little, "I think so, but I'm so nervous Leonard. What if I screw it up?"
"You can go to Dan with questions, right?" asked Leonard.
"Yeah, but still, now it's all on me," said Penny.
"Does Dan think there is a problem?" said Leonard.
"No, he's been quite supportive and has been telling me I'll be fine," said Penny. "But, what if I'm not?"
"Didn't you tell me you had this conversation with Karen when you told her she was on her own?"
"Well, yeah, but that's different," said Penny.
"How?"
Penny thought for a few seconds, and couldn't come up with a difference, other than one, "It's me that will be out there, not her."
"But, wasn't she going to be out there by herself," asked Leonard. "And, didn't you tell her she would be fine, just like Dan is telling you it'll be fine?"
"Yeah, okay, you're right, there is no difference," said Penny. "But, I'm the one that's nervous about it, and I'm the one that could mess it up, that's all."
"I can understand that," said Leonard. "But, if Dan thinks you'll be fine, you will be."
Penny smiled at Leonard, "Thank you, sweety, I hope you are both right. Oh, and I'm also getting an assistant. It may help as I've been tired a bit."
Leonard was immediately concerned, "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine," said Penny. "I've been working on the management chapters and the problems, both at work and here. I'll be fine, you don't have to worry."
"But, I do," said Leonard.
"Sweety, if I'm feeling bad, I will let you know, okay?" said Penny.
Leonard smiled and said, "Okay, I'll remember that. Anyway, I also have some news, we will be running the first full-up test to our entanglement experiment, tomorrow."
"That's great," said Penny. "You think it's ready?"
"Yep, I saw all the individual test results from Monday, and they look good. Each of the individuals in charge of each module gave their approval, and the combined test run was approved by Keith. So, I decided we're going to do the test run tomorrow, and try to do the first actual experiment, on Friday."
"I'm so proud of you," said Penny. "I know it's will go fine."
"Well, I'm hoping," said Leonard. "And, I want you to know it's all because of you."
"What do you mean?" said Penny.
"You're the one that pushed me to be more decisive," said Leonard. "Because of that I got this job, and now I'm making decisions, without worrying about it, something I couldn't do a year ago. So, see, it's because of you."
Penny smiled, hugged him tightly, and snuggled under his arm, "Let's watch some TV," she said.
Wednesday 25 March, 8:00 PM
The guys had returned from the comic book store with dinner, it had been eaten and cleaned up and now everyone was talking. Penny called out, "Hey everyone," and everyone stopped and turned to her.
"As of a week from Monday, I will officially be the LA District Sales Manager," said Penny. My boss told me yesterday that he will be turning it over to me. All the decisions, all the problems, will be mine. I'm excited and nervous, all at the same time."
Everyone congratulated her, and then, before they could break into the men and women group, Leonard spoke up, "We ran the test, on our experiment today. We found the apparatus could produce ten entangled photons, per burst. We think it actually produced fourteen, with each burst, but we're sure we did at least ten."
"Was it a data run," asked Howard.
"No, that comes on Friday," said Leonard. "Today we were just making sure we could get it to entangle ten photons, per burst. So, we weren't checking on the data, just that they could entangle them."
"So you will have a data run on Friday?" asked Sheldon.
"We are going to check the data from the run tomorrow," said Leonard. "And, if everything is good, we'll do the data run on Friday, and then next Tuesday and Thursday. Those will be about doing as many bursts as we can, for five hours, while entangling them with different degrees of freedom, and that starts Friday."
No one said anything else, and the group broke up into the guys, who were, as usual, talking about their latest comic books, and the women, who were talking about their jobs. Around 9 PM, Howard and Bernadette started preparing to leave. Leonard help get Halley and Michael ready, while Penny was talking to Amy. He then helped take them down to the car, and when he got back, he found Penny finishing cleaning up the apartment.
Leonard smirked, "I bet you thought I forgot about helping."
Penny smiled at him, "To be honest, I forgot I had asked you. When I was done talking to Amy and looked around, I was surprised to see you holding Michael. Especially since we missed last week but, thank you."
He walked over to Penny, and they hugged, then started kissing. They were soon heading toward their bedroom, dropping clothes as they went.
Thursday 26 March, 3:00 PM
Penny was going through the chapter Dan had asked her to review when the phone rang. "LA District Sales Manager, Ms. Hofstadter speaking, how may I help you," said Penny.
"Hi Penny," said Leonard.
"Leonard, why are you calling," said Penny, sounding puzzled.
"I just got a call from the bank," said Leonard.
"Is it about the house loan?" asked Penny.
"Yes, it is, we were approved," said Leonard. "For up to one and a half million."
Hearing that was a shock to Penny, "How much?"
"A million and a half," said Leonard. "That's how much the bank feels we can afford to pay back each month. However, I think we'll find something around a million or a bit less. It is pretty nice though that if we have to, we can go that high."
"So I can look at houses around million?" said Penny.
"A million, a million one," said Leonard. "I saw a few in that range that might work, and I think you'll be able to find a few also. We might want to start looking more seriously. If we're going to do this, I'd rather have it done, before you physically can't do anything."
Penny sighed, "Yeah, that's a good point. Okay, I'll start looking, but for now, I've got to get back my book. I see you tonight, sweety. I love you."
"See you tonight, I love you," said Leonard, and then they both disconnected. Penny went back to her book but found she couldn't concentrate, and within ten minutes, she was looking at houses.
Friday 26 March, 9:00 AM
Penny was going over her book, she was to meet Dan at 10 AM, when there was a knock on her doorframe, and looking up, she saw Jean Caldwell, looking in.
"Come on in," said Penny, with a big grin.
"Thank you," said Jean, entering Penny's office.
Penny pointed at the chair in front of her desk said, "Please, sit down."
"So, I hear you got a promotion…" said Jean. When she approached, Penny stood and watched Jean's eyes go wide. "I see you've been busy outside of work also," Jean had continued.
Penny chuckled, "Yeah, I was pregnant when I interviewed you. It was about two weeks after the interview, I found out I was having twins."
"Twins?" said Jean, looking surprised.
"Yep, twins," said Penny. "I'm due near the end of June."
"Oh, wow," said Jean. "And, the promotion?"
"That came a few weeks after the interview also," said Penny. "They obviously don't know what they are doing." Penny grinned at her, and said, "But, because I got that promotion, I get an assistant, and I asked for you."
"Me? Why?" asked Jean.
"I liked your attitude," said Penny. "We were both actors, but you had a plan, something I never did, until the sales job. But, before we start, I do have a question for you," said Penny. "Normally, our internships last for six months. But, I've talked to my boss, you remember you interviewed with Dan?"
Jean nodded.
"Well, we've talked and I'm out on maternity leave, right in the middle of your internship," said Penny. "That would end around the end of September, but we want to keep you until the end of the year. That way, you'll be here for a while, after I return. The reason I'm asking about it is you also mentioned becoming an assistant with someone in sales," said Penny. "Now, I'm a bit higher than sales, but I believe you will learn a lot from seeing what district managers do every week. I am thinking of getting you to go out with a salesperson a day or two a week, and staying with that person, while I'm out." Penny was thinking about Karen.
"We don't want to lock you into being here if another job comes up," said Penny. "After the scheduled end of your internship, if you find another regular job, we'll let you go. If you are eligible for the intern to regular employee track and find a job there, you can do that also. We'd just like to keep you around until the end of the year. So, if you don't find something, would that be agreeable with you?"
"Well, I would like to have the conditions of release in writing, before starting out," said Jean. "Because you never know what could happen."
"Of course," said Penny. "We just want a verbal yes or no, now, so we know where we stand and are able to make plans. We'll have that ready for you on Monday, so we can sign it then. As for starting out," said Penny. "Your office will be right next to mine and we'll go over your duties sometime Monday or Tuesday after you get settled in. You'll spend most of Monday getting your computer and your phone set up. Does all that sound good to you?"
"Yes, it does, and I want to thank you," said Jean.
"You're welcome," said Penny. "Go ahead, take the rest of today off and I'll see you Monday at 8 AM."
They both rose and shook hands, they both said their goodbyes, and Jean left, leaving Penny to get back to her book, studying for her meeting with Dan.
Sunday 29 March, 5:00 PM
Penny put her iPad down. It was time for her to start getting ready to go out for dinner. She had felt tired on Saturday and had just sat around the apartment all day. She had tried looking at houses but was having difficulty concentrating. On Sunday, they had gone to the farmers market, to get their vegetables, but they had cut that trip short, because Penny was feeling tired, along with her legs hurting. So they returned to the house, and again Penny spent the day sitting on the couch, either watching TV or looking at houses.
Leonard had also been looking at houses throughout the weekend, but was concerned and had been questioning Penny about her being tired. He hadn't told Penny, but he was going to bring up how tired she had been, to Dr. Samuels, if she didn't tell her.
Penny looked up at Leonard, he was at his desk, looking at houses. Penny shut her iPad off, sighed, and then stood. "Leonard, it's time to start getting ready," said Penny.
Leonard turned to look at her. He smiled, and she smiled back. He turned back to his computer to shut it off, so he could start getting ready.
Monday 30 March, 10:00 AM
Leonard was in his office, going over some paperwork since this was the first day of the spring semester. Doctoral candidates, who were members of his team, had to be listed as being in a class called, Topics in Physics. Leonard chuckled as they needed this for their PhDs, but it wasn't really a class, it was just them doing the work on the project.
He had his team doing some checks on the equipment, making sure it was ready for the second run tomorrow when his phone rang, and he picked it up, "Photon Entanglement Team, Dr. Hofstadter."
"Leonard, can you come down here," he heard Keith say.
"What's wrong?"
"There seems to be a problem with the control module," said Keith. "It's not turning on three of the other modules."
"Shit," said Leonard, looking at the clock, "I'll be right there."
Leonard got up and headed to the lab. He now had two worries, the first was he would miss Penny's doctor's appointment, and the second was they wouldn't be able to do the run tomorrow. He wanted to be at the doctor's appointment, to make sure Penny told the doctor about being tired, it worried him.
It took him five minutes to get to the lab, and the team already had the control module taken apart. They were using a meter to check the wires. Leonard felt useless, as he couldn't help with the details of each module, but felt he had to be there, as the leader of the team. As the minutes ticked away, Leonard felt he had to let Penny know, so he sent her a text:
Major problem with the equipment, may not make the appointment.
He walked over to Keith, and they talked for a bit, Keith filling him in on what exactly was not working. He felt his phone vibrate and looking at it, he saw:
If you have to stay, I can go by myself XOXO
Leonard smiled and texted:
I love you
Before turning his attention back to the group working on the module.
Monday 30 March, Noon
Penny was eating her lunch, she had forgotten to make one to bring with her, and Bernadette and Karen were busy, so after her meeting with Dan, she went to the companies cafeteria and ordered a salad with grilled chicken, before bringing it back to her office. While she ate, she was looking at houses. She would go to a specific city, then set the filters to four bedrooms and three baths. Some were too small, some were too expensive. Maybe she and Leonard would have to look farther away, but then it would cost more for gas to get to work or their friends. Penny would just keep looking.
It was now 12:30, and she cleaned off her desk, then checked her email, and found nothing that had to be done before she got back. She grabbed her purse and headed to her car. On the way, she was wondering if Leonard was going to be able to make it to the appointment. It was a short drive to her doctor's office and she was soon checking in.
She waited about five minutes before the nurse called her in. She weighed Penny, took her temperature, and blood pressure. The nurse looked at the machine and took her blood pressure again before she had Penny bare her arm. The nurse tied off her arm and took several vials of blood. After putting a band-aid on Penny's arm, she sent her back out to the waiting room.
Penny was hoping to see Leonard there but was disappointed. Penny found a place to sit and started looking through her email and when she finally looked up, it was 1:05 PM. She was surprised as Dr. Samuels was usually right on time or a bit early. But it was right then Dr. Samuels came out and called for her. Penny looked at the door, and not seeing Leonard walked toward Dr. Samuels. They exchanged greetings and just as Penny was going through the door, she heard Leonard gasp, "Penny, wait."
She turned to see Leonard, leaning against the door, using his inhaler, and take several deep breaths before he started walking toward her.